Monthly Reads: January 2018

Links under books are Affiliate links. ARCs clearly defined in accordance with review policy here

Hi!

I had great intentions for January, but got addicted to rewatching Friends and RuPaul's Drag Race on Netflix and kinda forgot about audiobooks altogether.

That being said, I read 10 books in January and abandoned one. I also used the library almost every week (well, at least 3 out of the 46 weeks in January) so I was delighted with myself!

My resolution to only buy 10 new books this year has gone down the toilet, I got some Amazon vouchers after Christmas and have been topping up my Kindle every couple of days when something catches my eye on the BookBub daily email (sign up for free to get a daily email with special offers & sales).

All of the covers below are clickable, and should take you to my longer review on Goodreads.

Books I Received for Review
I've been trying to stay away from Netgalley altogether because I get greedy and my feedback goes to hell, so I've been clearing the backlog of books I was approved for (how long have I been saying that for? Years, damnit). They're all available to buy.

 

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

I've liked the other books by this author a lot - The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks in particular was an entertaining Dead Poets Society-esque YA book about feminism and secret societies. This one, I didn't enjoy as much. It's small (under 300 pages) so I read it in an evening - it's about a woman who is on the run from something, but it's told in reverse. I liked it but I wish I had kept decent notes because I kept forgetting the relevance of certain events. 

Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

The Betrayals by Fiona Neill

This is a family drama told by a couple of different members of a family. It's based around an event that each of them remember differently, and how those memories rather than the actual event had an effect on their lives. It's good, I could see it as a TV series, but unreliable narrators irk me sometimes and this has them in abundance. It's thought provoking though, and my head almost melted thinking about how people remember things completely differently. It made me question the certainty of my own memories and that really unnerved me! 

Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

 

The Border by Steve Schafer

This really isn't the type of book I'd normally pick up - I think I took a chance because I'm trying to read as much about different cultures as possible. This is about two young Mexican boys who witness a terrible crime and have to go on the run. They're trying to make it across the border with their friends, but they face a huge number of perils along the way. It's high energy, fast, full of action from the get-go - and very uncomfortable when you realise that this still happens. Not an #ownvoices novel, but there's a great piece at the end where the author explains why he felt he had the knowledge and responsibility to write it. 

Buy: Kindle | Book Depository 

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
A non-fiction account of the young women who worked in factories across America as dial painters before, during and after WWI. Known for their luminosity (literally, they glowed at night and everyone thought it was glamorous), they soon began to feel the adverse effects of working with radium on a daily basis. With no company admitting any liability, it was up to the girls to band together and seek justice. This is a fascinating and very sad book, but one I'd recommend.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Books I Borrowed

I use the library service an awful lot, both digitally and in person. These are the books I borrowed in January:

  

The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor
A sort-of fiction, sort-of not retelling of the Cottingley Fairies story. Two young girls decide to stage fairies at the bottom of their garden but it gets incredibly out of hand and attracts the attention of national media. In the present day, a young woman has big decisions to make when she inherits a bookshop in Dublin. This book was lovely, really well written and very comforting, like one of those nice cosy films you'd stumble upon of a Sunday afternoon. Really liked it.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
This is one of the Richard & Judy book club picks for Spring 2018. It's about a marriage, but it's told from the POV of the husband, which is welcome and unusual. He and his wife are approached by someone who wants them to take "The Pact" - ensuring the success of their marriage. Nobody who has taken the pact has ever been divorced - but there are rules, ones that must not be broken. This book was absolutely bonkers, in a good way. Some of it made me roll my eyes so hard but it was different, memorable, and it was a really unique tale. Loved it.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

The Thirst by Jo Nesbo
Another pick from the Richard & Judy Spring 2018 selection. This is the 11th book in the popular Harry Hole series. You don't have to have prior knowledge of the series, this works well as a standalone. There's an investigation going on into some very gory murders linked to a dating website - but do the Police already know the killer? This was full of action, twists, red herrings, and there's a lot going on - but it works, and I liked it, though it was incredibly gory in parts.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Books I Bought

These are all books I've either had on my Kindle or Shelves for ages, or ones I've bought recently.

  

Audrey Rose by Frank De Felitta

This is good old fashioned horror, similar to The Omen or Rosemary's Baby. Set in the 70s, it's the story of Ivy Templeton, a ten year old girl living with her parents in an apartment in New York City. The parents realise that a strange man is watching Ivy all the time - he thinks she is the reincarnation of his daughter, Audrey Rose. A whole pile of strangeness ensues. I liked this, but there's a court case in here that made me lose the will to read. I did finish it, but skimmed a lot of that part. I've read worse books, but I felt like this had such a strong beginning and went downhill towards the middle. Still worth a read if 70's NYC is your thing! 

Buy: Kindle | Book Depository 

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff

The most talked about book during the first week in January for sure - but did it live up to the hype? Unequivocally, NO. Any of the real unknown "juicy" gossip had been leaked prior to publication, leaving for a rambly ranty account of the Trump Presidency. Melania barely features, it's the Steve Bannon show right from the off, and it's by far the most badly written book I've read about Trump so far. I bought it from Amazon, and it was destroyed with typos and grammatical errors. Yes, it was rushed for early publication, but these were mistakes that should have been caught on a first edit, not two days before it was let out into the wild. There's nothing new in here - reading Trump's tweets already shows what kind of person he is, we didn't need an overhyped "exposé" to come to the conclusion that he probably doesn't belong in the position he's in. Get Joshua Green's book instead if you want to learn more about Stevie's influence over Trump. 

Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberley McCreight

I've had this on my Kindle for so long - it's about the aftermath of a terrible incident involving a fifteen year old girl and the impact it has on those nearest and dearest to her. I'm not sure how much the blurb reveals, so I won't take it too much further - but it's sad, and it's a stark lesson for people to always speak up.

Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Abandoned Books

I rarely abandon a book (according to Goodreads, out of 665 total books read, I abandoned 17, or 2.6% meaning I finish 97.4% of books I start, useless stat fans). This one though - I just couldn't continue.

Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama
This has had rave reviews, and I was looking forward to it ahead of the release of the sequel this year. It's a police procedural set in Japan, based on an unsolved murder case. Right before the Anniversary of the case, some information comes to light that may be important - but was it there all along? Sounds great, right? And it probably is, but I just couldn't get into it. It was so long and so wordy - I think that it could have done with another edit, just to cut out pages and pages of non-important stuff. I still wanted to know what happened (thanks, Wikipedia) and I'd love to go back and read it but it felt like wading through pages of waffle just to get to the good stuff.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository 


And that's a wrap for January. I ticked a few prompts off my Popsugar Reading Challenge list:

* Nordic Noir: Jo Nesbo, The Thirst
* A Book about a villain or antihero: E. Lockhart, Genuine Fraud
* A Book about death or grief: Kimberley McCreight, Reconstructing Amelia
* A Book you borrowed or received as a gift: Michelle Richmond, The Marriage Pact
* A Book from a celebrity book club: Fiona Neill, The Betrayals (Richard & Judy)
* A Book published in 2018:  Michael Wolff, Fire and Fury
* A past Goodreads Choice winner: Kate Moore, The Radium Girls

Books I Read in November & December

Nothing to Disclose. ARCs clearly defined in accordance with review policy here. 

Hi!

Every year my reading drops in November and December because it's a really busy time of year for me. This year I really wanted to try and read at least a couple of books, and I'm happy to report that I read 3 in November and 8 in December.

NON-FICTION

  

A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa

This was a Kindle First pick for December. I don't usually get one, but this looked interesting on the basis that we don't really get to hear accounts from people who live in North Korea very often. It's harrowing, it's hard to read, and it's full of grief. I think it is worth a read, just to see exactly what it was like for this man over the 36 years he lived there - but it's not an easy read at all. 

Almost the Perfect Murder by Paul Williams

I can not abide Paul Williams, but I wanted to read about how the horrific murder of Elaine O'Hara was solved. When a friend lent me a copy, I read it in pretty much one sitting. I hate the title of this book, but it's fascinating to read about. Very, very graphic and very upsetting in parts. 

Devil's Bargain by Joshua Green

An account of who exactly Steve Bannon is and how he came to be involved with the election of Donald Trump. A much better book by all accounts than Fire and Fury, and very much worth a read if you have an interest in U.S. politics. 

  

How to Succeed in the Beauty Business by Ciara Allen
This is a must-read if you're in any way interested in beauty blogging or beauty as a career. Ciara has written a bible - with sections on how to start, how to make contacts, how to gain experience and much, much more. My own interest in beauty has waned significantly over the past few years but I enjoyed every second of this.

Into the Valley by Chris Clement-Green
I was a part of the blog tour for this release, so you can read my full review in that post here. This is an account of Chris' time spent as a Police Officer in London in the 80s. Anyone into Police procedurals would enjoy this, I think.

The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds by John Higgs
Yes, that KLF. Justified and Ancient. This is a really, really fascinating account of how the band came to be, and how they ended up burning a million pounds in cash on a small island in 1994. This is so engaging, and really witty. Even if you have no interest in the band, the chapters about shared thoughts and the existence of money are well worth the read. Great research, great book, one of my favourite reads last year.

CHRISTMAS THEMED

 

My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Winter Romances by Various, edited by Stephanie Perkins

A Young Adult anthology containing short stories by twelve different authors, all set around the theme of winter romance. My favourites were by by Kiersten White (a story about a guy who cooks food at a diner based not on what people order, but what they really need) and Stephanie Perkins (a tale about a girl meeting a boy at a Christmas tree lot). Very sweet. 

One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill by Mandy Baggot (ARC)

I really like Mandy's Christmas books. This one is about a woman from Notting Hill who cares for her sister. She finds out that the company she works for are in talks to develop a Super Hotel in London, and the CEO is in town. Mandy's pop culture references and sharp wit always save her stories from becoming too twee and predictable, she's one of the first I look to when I want something sweet and romantic. 

OTHER FICTION

  

Friend Request by Laura Marshall
Louise is (understandably) shocked when she receives a friend request from someone who has died years ago. Who is pretending to be Maria? Or, is she really dead? This features two of my favourite tropes: 80s flashbacks and school reunions. It was a good read, not one of my favourites but it was a nice little thriller and a good debut.

In a Cottage In a Wood by Cass Green
Neve inherits a cottage in the strangest of ways. Expecting a peaceful retreat to help get her life back on track, she ends up in a house of horrors. Someone does not want her there - and what was the previous owner really like? I enjoyed this a lot, it was an addictive read. Recommended!

Oh My God What a Complete Aisling by Emer McLysaght & Sarah Breen
Fans of the Facebook page will be familiar with Ais and her boyfriend, Generic John. But you don't have to be a fan to read this - everyone knows an Aisling. A country girl working in the city, with a long-term boyfriend and no sign of an engagement ring. When Ais and John attend yet another wedding, Ais decides things need to change. Warm, witty, and friendly, this book was lovely, and managed to get a few really serious issues in there too. Also recommended!

And that's it - that brings my 2017 reading to a total of 138. As always, I'll update the Books 2017 page with clickable covers, just click any one to go to my full Goodreads review. I've a shiny new Books 2018 page that I'll update as I go, thanks for staying with me throughout another great reading year!

My Top Ten Reads of 2017

Nothing to Declare

Hi!

I didn't want to post my Top Ten reads of 2017 too soon, in case I read something really great in the last few days of the year, but I think I'm safe enough publishing this now!

Over the last twelve months, I got through 137 books (currently reading #138). I used the library more than I had in years, and I fully embraced audiobooks. This list includes a couple - I really recommend them if you've struggled to read a certain book (I had attempted Rebecca several times in print but flew through it over 3 days in audio form).

This list has changed about ten times, but I've finally narrowed it down to something I'm 100% happy with. Here are my Top Ten reads of the year (not all were released in 2017).

10. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
I read this in March, just before the TV adaptation aired (I wanted to read the book before I watched it). It's a really engaging story about a group of women all linked via their children, who all attend the same pre-school. An incident on the first day is the catalyst for a series of actions that drive some of the women together - but some of them are hiding pretty big secrets.  A great book that I couldn't wait to get back to whenever I had to put it down.

09. Tin Man by Sarah Winman
I picked this up in August, while on our annual holiday in Galway. I ended up reading it in one sitting - it's a beautiful story of love, loss, and longing that starts off with a woman winning a painting of Van Gogh's Sunflowers at a raffle. The story follows her son, Ellis, and his friendship with Michael, through several decades. Fans of John Boyne's most recent offering may enjoy this, it's one that has stayed with me since I read it.

08. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
This is the long-awaited prequel to Practical Magic. It follows the cursed Owens sisters, Franny and Jet (those familiar with the sequel will know them as the Aunts of Sally and Gillian) and their brother Vincent in the 1950s. It's beautiful, I wanted to start it again the minute I finished it. It almost broke my heart, but it was just stunning and I'd recommend it for people who enjoy strong characters and beautiful storytelling.

07. Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land
I still remember the Sunday I read this - it was really sunny, and I didn't budge from the garden chair until I had read it from cover to cover. It's about how a fifteen year old girl copes while her mother is awaiting trial for horrific crimes against children. Milly has been given a second chance - a new identity, a new family - but when Milly comes up against some trouble at school, she needs to figure something out - is she good, or is she bad? This was one of those rare books I wanted to just devour, I couldn't read it fast enough. An intelligent, tense, unsettling thriller.

06. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
As a fan of book accounts on both Instagram and Youtube, I had seen a lot about Sarah J Maas' two series - A Court of Thorns and Roses and Throne of Glass. I ended up reading both series in 2017 (bar one book) - consider me a total fangirl (and 100% on #TeamRhysand). This one was my favourite of hers - it's the second book in the Thorns and Roses series, and the world building was phenomenal. Her attention to detail with both characters and setting is wonderful, it makes me feel the same as I did when I read the Harry Potter books for the first time. Sure, the sometimes insta-love and the Alpha male growling and purring stuff can be off-putting, but there's a solid story underneath and as fantasy series go, it's one I'll follow to the end. Fairies, warriors, magic, quests, war-hungry Kings hell-bent on revenge? Gimme.

05. Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling! by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
From fairies and warriors to dangly earrings and a hotel breakfast - OMGWACA, as it is lovingly known, began as a Facebook page a few years ago. I always assumed it was a group for people who were called Aisling, and when I finally joined I was completely confused by mentions of Deddeh, BGB and GJ - but slowly, it became apparent that Ireland is a special little place. Where else could you post a picture of a biscuit tin and get a debate going on whether or not it contained biscuits or a sewing kit?  Unsure how this would translate to a novel form, I bought this without really reading any reviews. It's a sweet, funny, and warm tale of Aisling, a country girl who works in the city. When her long-term boyfriend John fails to produce the much-anticipated engagement ring, Aisling decides that things need to change. I adored this, it was the absolutely perfect comfort read.

04. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
The first of two audiobooks on the list - I listened to this over a couple of days while out walking. It's about two sisters, Marjorie and Meredith. Fifteen years ago, their family was the subject of a reality TV show, called The Possession. Now, a horror blogger is writing about the show, and Meredith is telling her story to a writer. Eventually we piece together what happened during the recording - was there really a possession? I loved this, it was very enjoyable and I really liked the way it was written (or told). For me, it had echoes of We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. That's never a bad thing if it's done right - and here, it's done right. I'll definitely listen to this again. 

03.  The One by John Marrs
The second audiobook on my list. This was read by a full cast, and they did such a wonderful job. Every single one of them was engaging, but I think my favourite was the lady who read Jade. This is a story about a dating agency with a difference - people are matched by DNA samples, ensuring that they end up with their true DNA soulmate. But what would happen if you were already with your soulmate and you got matched with someone else? Or if your match turned out to be a serial killer? Or on the other side of the world? Or dead? This follows five people as they're faced with five very different scenarios after taking the test. I'd highly recommend this, it's a really unique thriller and the premise is fascinating. Would you take the test?

02. The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds by John Higgs
Yes, THAT KLF. The band who had Tammy Wynette singing about an ice cream van. Not a band I've ever been majorly interested in, to be fair, but I had heard that this book was worth a read. It's not only worth a read, I'd go as far as to say it's essential reading if you're interested in coincidence, the origins of the illuminati, 1990s pop culture, and the most interesting, bonkers characters that you couldn't even make up. The sections about money and Ideaspace are worth it alone - just consider the fact (because it is a fact) that everything around you this very minute began as an idea in someone else's mind. Also, when I finished this book I checked my phone and it was on 23% and it absolutely MADE my evening.

01. The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Ah, Cyril. I still miss him months after reading this book - this is his story. Cyril was adopted into the Avery family after his mother was banished from her parish when she became pregnant with him. This follows him through the decades of his life - one ordinary man in Ireland from the 1940s until the present day, and all the changes, friendships, and relationships that could possibly bring. It's a gorgeous book, one that left me with a book hangover for a very long time afterwards. How can you miss someone who never existed? That's real magic. The power of books!


So, there we go. What was your favourite read of the year? Or have you read any of these? I've a lot coming up here over the next few months, book posts will be more regular plus I'll be mixing it up with the lifestyle posts in between. I have my Monthly Reads next week, plus a post on the Popsugar 2018 challenge, my most anticipated reads of 2018, a brand shiny new Books 2018 page, a whole basket full of product empties, a money saving challenge and an analysis on whether or not a pricey beauty advent calendar was worth the cost this year. If there's anything else you'd like to see, please pop it in the comments!

As always, thank you so much for reading and for sticking around for another year!

Blog Tour: Into the Valley by Chris Clement-Green

ARC clearly defined in accordance with review policy here. 

Hi!

I get regular emails asking if I'd be interested in reading all kinds of books. Normally, I'll have a quick glance at the summary and that's it - but with this one, it reeled me in from the first page. I'm delighted to be hosting the second stop on the blog tour for Chris Clement-Green's memoir, Into the Valley. 

PLOT

In 1984, Chris Clement was working in a bookshop when she saw an advertisement in the newspaper looking for recruits to the Thames Valley Police service. Aged 24, Chris applied - and was accepted. This is the story of her training and career - the cases that have stayed with her, the interesting characters she encountered, and her experience of working in an incredibly male dominated environment. Sexism, racism and homophobia were rife - being a woman in the force was, in itself, an obstacle. This memoir takes us through Chris' career via witty, engaging anecdotes.

THOUGHTS

I'm a fan of biographies or autobiographies, I think that every person has a unique story to tell. This book is every bit as engaging and interesting as some of the "celeb" memoirs I've read, Chris has a great way of telling a story and pulling the reader in. I flew threw this, I really enjoyed the setting. Each chapter is almost like a short story - some of the anecdotes were hilarious, others heartbreaking.

I'm also a fan of Police procedurals - I think that fellow fans of The Bill, Ashes to Ashes or Happy Valley would really enjoy this. Chris is a fascinating person and has led a really interesting life. Anyone with an interest in London in the 1980s would also like this. References to race riots, protests and the fear surrounding the AIDS epidemic remind us of how far we have come as a society (not far enough, but it's a start).

RATING

Into the Valley is published by Mirror Books and is available at Amazon. 

Thanks to Laura, the Mirror Books team and the author for granting me access to the book, and for having me on the tour. For author interviews, giveaways, excerpts and more you can check out the other stops here:

Books I Read in October

ARCs clearly defined in accordance with review policy here. 
Links to buy are affiliate links.

Hi!

October was a month full of Halloween crafts and planning for me, plus I've a couple of other things on at the minute (this isn't one of these "I've something really exciting coming up but I can't tell you until 2019" things, just personal stuff) so my reading took a bit of a back seat.

That being said, I managed to finish six books - a paperback, a hardback, an eBook and three audiobooks.

AUDIOBOOKS

I finished three audiobooks in October, all borrowed from the library via the Borrowbox app.

  

All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
This is about a young woman, Nicolette, who has to go back to her hometown to sort out some family matters. A young woman has gone missing - but it's not the first time. Years ago, another young woman went missing, and both were known to Nicolette. Are the two cases connected?
This is interesting because it's told backwards - we start at the end and work our way back to the start. If that sounds confusing, don't worry - it takes a little while to get used to and it's different, but it really works. It's very clever, and I really liked how little bits of information were revealed slowly.
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

The One by John Marrs
Imagine a dating app that not only matched people using algorithms or interests, but through their DNA. In this book, it's a reality - thousands of people are using this service to find their true love, or to determine if their partner is their true DNA soulmate. This story follows five very, VERY different characters as they use it - it's twisty, it's brilliant, it's clever, and the ensemble cast were really enjoyable. I'd highly recommend seeking this one out in audio format. One of my favourite books of the year.
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Thirst by Benjamin Warner
I'm a sucker for any kind of weather-related dystopia, so I was attracted to this because of the mysterious drought that has suddenly swept through an entire community. Unfortunately - that's the whole plot. There's a drought, and people don't know why. It's an interesting look at what people will do when they're under pressure, but it got a little far-fetched for me at times and I found it a slog to listen to. I think I would have enjoyed this more had I read it. A book with a similar premise, but a much more enjoyable read, was We Are Unprepared by Meg Little Reilly.
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

ARC

December Girl by Nicola Cassidy
I was part of the blog tour for this, so it's reviewed in full here. It's a wonderful story about a young Irish woman and how a tragic event affects her life. Molly Thomas is distraught when her baby son is kidnapped, will she ever find him? I thought about Molly for days afterwards, I'd really recommend you check this one out.
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

LIBRARY

In addition to the audiobooks, I also borrowed two physical books:

 

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai
This was one of the Rick O'Shea Book Club picks over the past few months. It's not something I'd ever choose - it's about time travel, and I don't fare well with books like that. Tom Barren comes from the 2016 we were supposed to have - flying cars, no wars, total equality. But when something he's involved in goes terribly wrong, he finds himself trapped in our imperfect world. Will he want to go back? Is it even possible?
I really enjoyed this. It was different to anything else I had read, and even though some of the in-depth time travel stuff went over my head a bit, I thought it was a really good book.
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
This is the story of Tom Hazard, a man with a very rare genetic condition. Tom doesn't age like the rest of us, so while he may appear to be in his forties, he is hundreds of years old. Every 8 years, Tom must move around to avoid detection - but what would happen if he found something he didn't want to give up?
I really enjoyed this, it was a sweet and heartwarming book. I did find the conclusion a bit rushed, but I'd recommend it if you're looking for something non-depressing and easy to read.
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

And that's it! It's the leanest round-up I've done so far this year, but usually when I'm busy I abandon books altogether so I'm delighted I managed to add another six to the yearly total.

Have you read any of these? Or anything good you'd like to recommend?

As always, you'll find clickable covers on my Books 2017 page if you want to read my full (non-spoiler) Goodreads review for any book mentioned.

Blog Tour: December Girl by Nicola Cassidy

ARC clearly defined in accordance with review policy here. 

Hi!

Nicola Cassidy is an Irish writer, blogger and all-round good egg, so when she got in touch with me a few months ago to ask if I'd like to take part in the blog tour for her debut novel, I didn't even have to think about it. I know I enjoy her writing from following her website (www.ladynicci.com) so I had every faith in her novel being brilliant.

It didn't disappoint - "December Girl" was one of those books I couldn't put down, one of those ones I carried to the toilet with me (sorry, Nicola). And I'm not just saying this because the press pack came with a little bottle of gin (but believe me, that didn't hurt).

PLOT

Molly Thomas' world is turned upside down when the jealousy of a neighbour culminates in the arrest of her father, creating a series of tragic events that change Molly's life forever. As she begins to build a life for herself, the unthinkable happens - her baby is kidnapped. Can she ever find her son? And find happiness? Set between Ireland and England in the late 1800s/early 1900s, this is the story of a strong willed young woman and her struggle for survival and justice, revenge and happiness.

THOUGHTS

I don't naturally gravitate towards Historical fiction, and I'm not sure why, because I'm a sucker for anything set in Ireland around this time period. Molly, the feisty young woman born on the December Solstice, was instantly likeable. My heart broke for her during some of her most terrible experiences, and I really wanted her to find happiness. The story is sad (very sad) in parts, and it was difficult to read at times because I felt like I really knew Molly, I felt like she was a real person and couldn't bear to see her going through so much heartache. The plot itself was believable and well paced, I liked the setting and how the book was broken up into parts.

I'm a Solstice baby too (the June one) and remember going on a school tour to Knowth, Dowth and Newgrange as a child - this book made me want to go back again, to have a wander round as an adult. Anyone with even a mild interest in Irish heritage should definitely make a point of going - the peacefulness and history came across really well in the book, and it's even stronger in reality.

I'd recommend this for anyone who is looking for an engaging character-driven read, for people who like Irish Fiction, Historical Fiction, anyone with an interest in Irish heritage or anyone looking for a heartfelt read about courage, revenge, love and loss. It's not a light read by any means, but it's worth it.

RATING

December Girl is currently available wherever books are sold, and on Kindle (a steal at 99p right now). 

Thanks to Nicola and everyone at Bombshell Books for allowing me to read the book prior to publication, and for asking me to be part of the tour. You can check out the other stops below:

Books I Read in September

ARCs clearly defined in accordance with review policy here. 
Links to buy are affiliate links. 

Hi!

This post should really be called "Books I Listened to in September" because the majority of them were audiobooks (I have a post about where to get Audiobooks here). The majority were also from the library this month, despite the fact that I've been collecting books faster than the old Taylor collected enemies.

The Rick O'Shea Book Club

The September choices were My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent (I read and reviewed that in August) and All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai, which I didn't finish in September so I'll pop that in next month's round up.

ARCs

  

Copycat by Alex Lake
Sarah, a doctor in her late thirties, gets a pretty big shock (as one would) when she receives a friend request on Facebook from someone posing as her. They've got photographs and information that only Sarah should be able to access, so what's going on? I did enjoy this, but found the chapters from the perspective of the antagonist a little Disney villain-esque. A good, quick, engaging read.
Buy: Kindle | Book Depository

Lay Me to Rest by E.A. Clark
Annie is a young widow, pregnant with her late husband's baby. Her sister arranges a getaway in a remote Welsh village, but when she gets there Annie realises she may not be welcome. There's a malevolent presence (or two) at the cottage, so Annie digs deeper into local legend to see if she can bring the spirit some peace. I enjoyed this too, I didn't find it scary but I read it one evening and found it enjoyable if a little Joey-with-the-thesaurus at times.
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The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman Published October 10th
A long-awaited prequel to the wonderful Practical Magic that follows the lives of Franny and Jet (the Aunts) before they were Aunts. The girls and their brother Vincent live with the Owens curse hanging over their heads, and it affects them in different ways. Set in the 1950s, this was a wonderful book and I absolutely adored it, it's perfect for this time of year and I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of magical realism or Alice Hoffman. One of my favourites of the year.
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Paperbacks

I only read two physical books this month - one from the library and one I own.

 

No Filter by Orlagh Collins

A Young Adult book about a 16 year old teenager, Emerald, who is sent to Ireland to stay with her Grandmother while her mother is going through treatment. While in Dublin, Em meets local boy Liam Flynn and the pair forge an instant connection - but Liam is probably the one person that Em shouldn't be with. I liked this, it's nice to see a YA book set in modern Ireland that covers topics like social media pressure, recovery after the recession, and parental expectations.
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The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas

This is a collection of the five Throne of Glass novellas. I read this after reading the series up to Empire of Storms - I feel it would have had more of an impact had I read it around the second or third book, because while there were snippets of new information, it wasn't really needed when I'd read the series.
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Audiobooks

These were all borrowed from the library via the Borrowbox app (I've a post about the Library system in Ireland here). 

  

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The second Mrs. DeWinter marries Maxim after a whirlwind romance. When they return to the sprawling estate of Manderley, she realises that she has a lot to live up to - the seemingly perfect Rebecca, Maxim's late wife, was quite the woman and the staff (especially Mrs. Danvers) are NOT happy with the idea of a replacement. I really enjoyed this, Anna Massey was a wonderful narrator and I got really immersed in the story.
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Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
One of the Hogarth Shakespeare retellings, this is a modern version of The Taming of the Shrew. Kate Battista is the shrew in question - abrasive, arrogant, moody. Her father is at risk of losing his research assistant, Pyotr, because of his visa, so comes up with the wonderful notion of Kate marrying Pyotr in order to save the family. While I did enjoy the story, the narrator (Kirsten Potter) grated on me slightly and I found some of the characters (Bunny and Pyotr) incredibly annoying. It's no Ten Things I Hate About You but it's a decent retelling.
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You Don't Know Me by Imran Mahmood
A young man is on trial for murder. He has sacked his legal representative, and is making his closing speech himself. We are the jury, we hear his story and decide if he's guilty or not. Narrated by Adam Deacon, who brings this to life wonderfully. I couldn't stop listening to this - it's a gripping tale of gangs, violence and loyalty set in London. I wasn't keen on the ending but I really liked this.
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A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
This is about two sisters, Meredith and Marjorie. When they were younger, their family was the subject of a reality TV show, The Posession, because they believed Marjorie was possessed by an evil spirit. Now fifteen years on, a blogger is writing about the show, and Merry is telling her story to a writer. I absolutely adored this, I thought it was a brilliant story - if We Have Always Lived in the Castle had a baby with The Exorcist and the E! network filmed it, this would be the result.
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Disappearance at Devil's Rock by Paul Tremblay
This is about the vanishing of a young teenage boy while out playing in a park one night with his friends. His mother is convinced that she has started seeing apparitions of him, and when diary pages begin to appear in the house she thinks he's trying to get a message to her - but is that what's really going on? I did enjoy this, but kept zoning out while listening, always a sign that I'm losing interest. I ended up borrowing the eBook so I could concentrate on finishing it. Not as good at A Head full of Ghosts but a good book all the same.
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You Sent Me a Letter by Lucy Dawson
Sophie wakes up early on the morning of her Fortieth birthday to find a stranger in her bedroom - he knows a lot about her, and hands her a sealed letter. He threatens to harm her family if she does not stick to instructions - she must open the letter at her birthday party and read the contents aloud. I enjoyed this, I thought it was a good thriller and enjoyed the story.
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The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman
This was the final audiobook I borrowed from the library, it was a short listen (under two hours). Performed by a full cast, it was a fairytale retelling of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. All over the land, people are being affected by a curse - they're falling into a deep, unresponsive sleep. The Queen travels with her short-statured companions to a castle covered in thorns, to rescue a sleeping princess and break the curse. But is everything as it seems? I enjoyed this, I think it'd be a great atmospheric listen around Halloween. Originally published in "Rags & Bones".
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So, that's it - as usual, I've updated the Books 2017 page so you can click on the covers to read my full Goodreads review of any book I've mentioned. I'll also be back with a Spooky Reads post soon and I've a lot of Halloween DIY coming up, plus an empties post, a couple of blog tours and some subscription box unboxings. If you've any questions about anything that I haven't covered, just shout and I'll get back to you ASAP!